
Koneko and Kuroka woke up after eight hours of deep sleep. Even after they woke up, they kept hugging in silence for another hour until they heard Aika's voice behind the door, "Koneko-chan and big sister, respectively, Yoruichi-san said that you two are awake. Please get up and eat. Eat, or would you rather soak in a hot bath?"
They looked at each other first and Koneko replied Aika, "We want to take a bath first... Are you the only one here, Aika-senpai?"
"No. Kisuke and Yoruichi-san are also here. Sakura-san returned home. They said that they would attract more attention if he disappeared for a long time."
"Then, please join us at the hot spring. I want to introduce my sister to all of you." Koneko said while arranging her pyjamas.
Kuroka was surprised to hear his words, "Kisuke? Is that a hateful human being, Shirone?"
"Umm. Technically he's a good guy if you know more about him and ignore his perverted antics." Koneko dragged Kuroka's hand as they went to the door.
"I'll judge that. And that's none of my business! Did you let him soak in the hot springs with you?" Although they did not say much, after their 'reconciliation', his protective nature towards his little sister reappeared, 'Anyone who can bind someone like that is not a good person! I have to protect Shirone from that beast!'
Koneko opens the door and sees Aika curiously staring at Kuroka and introduces herself, "Aika Kiryuu, Koneko-chan's good friend and US #3." Aika reached out her right hand to shake hands.
"Hai~. You can call me Kuroka-nya~. I'm Shirone's sister. What does US #3 mean?" Kuroka received her hand but she asked Koneko about that unknown term.
"Who knows, Aika-senpai, like Kisuke-senpai, has some weaknesses. Understanding them is a futile endeavor." Koneko, without hesitation, rejected Aika.
"What's!? Please don't group me with that pervert! He's a lot worse!"
'So you don't deny the fact that you have some loose screws?' Koneko and Kuroka thought to themselves.
"What does this mean for US #3?" Although Aika said some nonsense, Koneko was still curious as to what she meant when she called herself US #3.
"You know how the oddly stubborn Kisuke was in defending a group called 'Urahara Shop (Shoten Urahara)'? I've been thinking these past few days how we should call ourselves when it's time to introduce ourselves to the enemy, but all I can do is think about is 'Owner', 'Officer 1', 'Officer 2', 'Manager', etc. But that sounds so weak! So I just finished with the U. S. and the number." Aika told me with all her feelings.
"Aika-senpai, I'm surprised you still have the energy to think about these things while attending Yoruichi-san's training." Dumbfounded, Koneko really thought it was amazing.
"Hehehe... If I don't do this, my sanity will slowly slip out of my grasp..." A cold laugh came out of him.
"so. So you want to escape from reality. And? What does this number mean?"
"Nothing fancy. The most recent addition will have the highest number. Kisuke is 0, Yoruichi is 1 and you are 2 while I am 3."
"Did Kisuke-senpai approve of your naming scheme?" Koneko hesitantly looked at Aika.
"I haven't told him."
"However you have just introduced yourself using it ... It's amazing." 'Amazing idiot.'
"Don't look at me like I'm a big idiot. I intended to 'persuade him' and I didn't accept no answer this time. I don't want me to shout to the enemy before the start of the battle.against "Aika Kiryuu, Urahara 2 Store Officer". "
"It's just courtesy, but after that, you can point your middle finger at him. At least you're trying to be polite, right? The easiest way to piss off your enemies is to say." Aika nodded in satisfaction as she imagined herself in such a scenario.
"... Lefs go. I'm sweating." 'Not good. The way Kisuke-senpai infected him was too much.' Koneko immediately changed the subject. After all, he would not be able to overcome this problem because the only one who could do that would even support him.
Aika parted ways with Koneko and Kuroka to inform Yoruichi and Kisuke of their plans. Because the location of the hot spring is about one kilometer from the inn and they took the time to walk. They started talking about the things that happened to Koneko after they split up.
Koneko recounts everything that happened to her until the day she met Kisuke. It is a bitter experience at first but will get better as time goes on. The Gremory family took good care of him even though he had a past, although that was also one of the reasons why he did not want to use Senjutsu. Koneko stopped telling her story after Kisuke brought her in. Throughout the story, Kuroka holds Koneko's hand and sometimes squeezes it depending on the content of the story.
"Thanks to senpai, I can sort out how I feel about you. And I will say it again, I miss you, Nee-sama." Koneko stopped walking and faced him.
Kuroka wanted to jump for joy but stopped herself and smiled brightly, "I miss you a lot too... Shirone." - shirone."
After a short hug, the two continue their steps and Koneko tries to ask Kuroka about her time when she parted from him, but she refuses with an apologetic expression, "Sorry, Shirone. I promise I'll tell you later, but not now."
"Is this dangerous?" Koneko looked straight into her eyes.
Kuroka did not deny or justify her question.
Koneko returned her gaze forward, "If you need help, please let me know."
"Are you going to ask that strange human to help?"
"No. I'm very grateful to her, but I can't ask her everything. Just me."
"Hm... Shirone, do you understand what it means to have her partner?"
"They're people you can trust and rely on?"
"You're right, so you shouldn't say it's just you're his~."
"...Why?"
"Regardless of what you do and as long as you don't stray, they will be there to help you in your endeavors. Don't ignore their desire to help you. Aren't you the same? If they need it. Help, you won't hesitate to give it, right?"
Koneko's eyes opened wide after hearing her words, "But I owe them too much that I couldn't possibly ask for more..."
"That's a good indicator for you not to rely too much on your colleagues. But too much of it will not make you a partner, but a business partner. It may start as a deal or a wish, but two or more people can come together for no reason you know." Kuroka smiled as she finally remembered her rowdy friends.
Koneko understood his words and her smile, "Nee-sama, it seems like you have some good comrades."
"We may be just a bunch of troubled kids, but you're right. They are my precious comrades~."